Best Things to Do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's northwestern province, a drier, more resort-oriented region than the rest of the country, with some of the country's most popular surf beaches (Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa), the sea turtle nesting beaches of Ostional, and the active Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. The province's dry forest ecosystem makes it distinctly different from Costa Rica's wetter regions.
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Guanacaste occupies Costa Rica’s northwestern corner, bordering Nicaragua and facing the Pacific. Its tropical dry forest climate (November-April is reliably dry; May-October wet) creates a different character from the cloudier regions to the south. The things to do in Guanacaste include Tamarindo (the province’s most developed surf town, with consistent beach breaks and a lively expat scene), Nosara (a more low-key surf and yoga destination with three consecutive beaches), Santa Teresa (on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, the most scenic and surf-oriented), Ostional Wildlife Refuge (where olive ridley sea turtles nest in mass events called ‘arribadas’, with hundreds of thousands of turtles coming ashore simultaneously at certain phases of the rainy season), and Rincón de la Vieja National Park (an active volcano with mud pots, hot springs, and hiking trails). Santa Rosa National Park has historical significance (three separate foreign invasions were repelled here) and excellent wildlife, including American crocodiles and jaguars.
Best time to visit
December through April is the dry season — the best time for beaches (no rain, all resorts open, best surfing conditions). May and October-November are the shoulders: some rain but fewer people and lower prices. June-September is the wet season: heavy daily rains, some roads close, but the sea turtle nesting season (July-October) is the peak time for Ostional. The area around Guanacaste can be extremely hot in April (35-40°C); December-February is cooler and most comfortable.
Getting around
Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia serves international flights from the US and Canada directly to Guanacaste, avoiding a long transit through San José. From Liberia, shuttle buses and rental cars distribute to the beaches (Tamarindo is 1.5 hours; Nosara is 2-3 hours on rough roads). A 4WD is recommended for the Nicoya Peninsula interior roads, particularly in the rainy season. The Nicoya Gulf ferry from Puntarenas to Naranjo connects the peninsula to the mainland for those coming from San José.
What to eat
Guanacaste’s cuisine is traditional Costa Rican: gallo pinto, casado, and fresh grilled fish. The province claims the ‘ancestral cuisine’ of Costa Rica — the traditional corn-based dishes and dried beef (tasajo) that predate Spanish colonization. For visitors, the restaurant scenes in Tamarindo and Nosara are well-developed with international menus. El Pescador in Tamarindo and Marlin Bill’s in Playas del Coco are longstanding fish restaurant staples. Farm-to-table restaurants have proliferated in the Nosara area.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ostional sea turtle nesting experience?
Ostional Wildlife Refuge hosts the world's most significant olive ridley sea turtle nesting site outside of Mexico and India. During ‘arribadas’ (mass nesting events), hundreds of thousands of turtles can come ashore over several nights to lay eggs. The timing is unpredictable but often occurs at the new or full moon during the rainy season. Day visits and licensed nighttime guided tours are available; guides are mandatory and keep visitors at a respectful distance. The community of Ostional holds a unique permit to collect eggs from the first layer (these would be destroyed by subsequent nesting waves anyway); this is one of the world's few legally permitted sea turtle egg collection programs.